Billiard table with pivotably mounted playing surface support frame

ABSTRACT

The support frame carrying the slate bed and playing surface in a coin operated billiard table is pivoted at one end and is held in a horizontal usable position by energized electromagnets connected to a separate surrounding yoke frame pivoted at one end to the same pivot as the support frame, wherein the electromagnets are in magnetic connection with iron surfaces on the support frame, the yoke frame being held in the raised horizontal position at the opposite end from the pivot connection by a pair of pivoted support arms connected to be moved between a locking raised position to maintain the yoke horizontal, and a lowered position where the yoke is inclined about the pivot. The support frame and playing surface are magnetically released by the electromagnets, at the end of a predetermined timed play period in a coin operator which energizes and deenergizes the electromagnets, to pivot on shock absorbers down to an inclined nonuse position simultaneously locking the balls inside the table in a ball return rack. Insertion of the coins in a coin operator energizes the electromagnets and the yoke frame is lowered to an inclined position by moving the pivoted support arms to the lowered position whereby the electromagnets attract the iron surfaces on the support frame and raise it and the playing surface to the horizontal usable position when the support arms are moved back to the locking raised position.

United States Patent Leonhart Oct. 7, 1975 BILLIARD TABLE WITH PIVOTABLY MOUNTED PLAYING SURFACE SUPPORT [57] ABSTRACT FRAME The support frame carrying the slate bed and playing 7 Inventor; Xaver Leonhal-t 3 1 Hal-burg near surface in a coin operated billiard table is pivoted at Pfl ti North Bavaria, Germany one end and is held in a horizontal usable position by energized electromagnets connected to a separate sur- [22] F'led: 1974 rounding yoke frame pivoted at one end to the same 21] A N 493,9 3 pivot as the support frame, wherein the electromagnets are in magnetic connection with iron surfaces on the support frame, the yoke frame being held in the [30] Foreign Apphcatlon Pnonty Data raised horizontal position at the opposite end from the Sept. 10, 1973 Germany 2345617 pivot connection by a pair of pivoted support arms connected to be moved between a locking raised posi- Cl 273/3 I tion to maintain the yoke horizontal, and a lowered 248/1882; 273/11 C position where the yoke is inclined about the pivot. [51] Int. Cl. A631) 15/00 The support frame and playing surface are magneti- Field f Search 273/3 3 11 cally released by the electromagnets, at the end of a /6, 8 194/9 T, 11, predetermined timed play period in a coin operator 1316- 18 which energizes and deenergizes the electromagnets,

to pivot on shock absorbers down to an inclined non- References Cited use position simultaneously locking the balls inside the UNITED STATES PATENTS table in a ball return rack. Insertion of the coins in a 3,170,555 2/1965 New 194/9 T Operator energizes the electromagnets and the 3,762,527 10/1973 Daddis 273/11 c x yoke frame is lowered to an inclined Position y ing the pivoted support arms to the lowered position FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS whereby the electromagnets attract the iron surfaces l83,472 4/l907 Germany 273/ll C on the upport frame and raise it and the ur- 1,483,456 4/1967 France 273/3 R Primary ExaminerAnt0n O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner'R. T. Stouffer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Brady, OBoyle & Gates face to the horizontal usable position when the sup- 1 port arms are moved back to the locking raised position.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 1 of 3 3,910,576

US. Patent Oct. 7,1975 Sheet 2 01-3 3,910,576

US. Patent Qct. 7,1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,910,576

BILLIARD TABLE WITH PIVOTABLY MOUNTED PLAYING SURFACE SUPPORT FRAME FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a billiard table of a known type and dimensions comprising a heavy marble or slate bedplate covered with a cloth to form a covered playing surface, and a raised broad rim surrounding the playing surface and having yielding inner edge surfaces forming side and end ball rebound cushions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Billiard tables of this type are generally situated in a large room and the set of balls needed to play the game and the players cue sticks with their leather capped tips are loaned out for a fee for a specific period of time by proprietors in inns, restaurants and pool halls. Consequently, the proprietor himself must keep account of the period of time allotted to the players. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to relieve the proprietor of the need to keep account of the playing time allotted to his various guests and customers and to protect him from losses.

This problem is solved according to the present invention by means of a frame bearing the playing field and comprising a pivot axis on one side which enables the playing field to be lowered back into an inclined position on the expiration of the allotted playing time which is regulated by a timer mechanism in the table set into operation by the insertion of a coin.

The arrangement can be carried out, for example, by means of hydraulic cylinders which first raise the playing field from an inclined unusable position into the horizontal usable position under the action of oil under pressure or air pressure which are opened on the expiration of the playing time. The use of a vacuum system could also be utilized. However, the constant regulation of the working cylinders and pumps which would be necessary in this case may be eliminated if, in further development of the invention, the task is performed by means of electromagnets and by the use of the following: a supporting frame which receives the playing field and which includes iron surfaces in the proximity of one front side and a pivot axis in the proximity of the other front side, a yoke which is also mounted on the pivot axis and the electromagnets of which are situated above the iron surfaces, a hand lever enabling the yoke to be pivoted downwards until the electromagnets come into contact with the iron sur faces and further enabling the yoke, supporting frame, and playing field to be raised into the horizontal usable position when current flows through the electromagnets and to be held in this position, a microswitch controlled by a coin checker and operator, this switch being temporarily closed when a coin is inserted and activating a time switch which supplies current to the electromagnets for a predetermined period of time. and shock absorbers which enable the supporting frame to return gradually to the inclined unusable position when the current supply is disconnected and the electromagnets release the iron surfaces of the supporting frame.

In further development of the invention, a ball return chute with a blocking lever is also provided. This blocking lever is controlled by the supporting frame and it retains the balls inside the table when the playing field is in the inclined unusable position.

The drawings represent a billiard table according to the latter described structure of the invention with the playing field in the raised horizontal position and showing the surrounding framework with the resiliently yielding inner cushion surfaces, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1 and 2 are horizontal vertical sectional views of the two halves of a billiard table according to the invention, taken substantially along the line II of FIG. 3 and the line IIII of FIG. 4, respectively; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial top plan views of the two halves of the billiard table, with the slate bed of the playing surface and top rails removed for purposes of illustration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A billiard table according to the invention, comprises in a manner known per se, a pair of box-shaped foot assemblies l and 2 extending continuously under opposite ends of the table box frame from one longitudinal side to the other (FIGS. 1 and 2). These foot assemblies support a rectangular wooden table box frame 3 which has side walls that diverge slightly toward the top. The playing field, which is not represented in the drawings but which extends vertically as far as line 4, in FIG. 1, that is, to just below the resilient side cushions 6, is in the form of a large, heavy slate bedplate covered with cloth in the usual manner. The covered playing field is bordered by a broad strong frame consisting of rails 5 provided with resiliently yielding inside rebound edges or cushions 6 constructed of live rubber, or the like, covered with fabric in the usual manner.

In contrast to the known billiard tables, the marble or slate bedplate, forming the playing field of the table of the invention, does not rest firmly on special bars provided on the wooden box frame, but instead is supported by a separate strong wooden base frame 7, the longitudinal side of which is reinforced by iron framework 8 connected thereto, which is in the form of a downward hanging low truss-like member. The front ends of the marble or slate bedplate acting as the playing surface, and not shown in the drawings, are held by angle bars 9 and 10, which are connected to the supporting base frame 7by means of two flexible struts 11. The front sides of the supporting base frame 7, shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, are rigidly connected to a continuous pivot member or axis 12, the ends of which pivotally rest in bearings 13 and 14. The bearings 13 and 14 are secured to a support 15 which is reinforced to a certain extent below the bearings, to support the weight of the slate bedplate and its supporting base frame 7.

Heavy angle irons 16 are screwed onto the opposite ends of the other front side of the supporting base frame 7, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The horizontal web' of these angle irons projects outwards from frame 7 and is reinforced by a welded corner lug 17.

The two ends of a U-shaped yoke 18 are supported on the pivot axis 12. The arms of this yoke 18 are also reinforced by a framework 19 in the form of a downward hanging low truss-like member. Downwardly projecting electromagnets 20 and 21 are attached to and carried by the center part of the yoke 18, (FIGS. I and 3), at a position above the horizontal webs of the angle irons 16. The eletromagnets and 21 together with the yoke 18 are each kept in the horizontal position indicated by means of a pair of pivoted supporting arms 22 having supporting. rollers 23 thereon, positioned to support yoke 23. The operation of supporting arms 22 will become apparent further in the description. Two tension springs 24 connected to holding angles 25 on the box frame 3, each ensure that the pair of supporting arms 22 remains in the position indicated. Protrusions 26 which bend the springs 24 slightly to the side prevent the springs from vibrating naturally while the billiard table is in use. The two pairs of supporting arms 22 are rigidly interconnected by means of a shaft 27 which is pivoted in bearings 28 and 29; one end of which projects through and from the side of wooden box frame 3 and terminates in a hand lever 30.

The electromagnets 20 and 21 are supplied with electrical current by a rectifier 31, FIGS. 2 and 4, which is connected to the common supply line via a coin checker and operator including a microswitch 32 and a time switch 33, FIG. 3.

In the drawing it is assumed that the electromagnets 20 and 21 are constantly being supplied with current and are magnetically attracting and gripping the two angle irons 16. The supporting base frame '7 which is connected to the angle irons 16 and the heavy slate bedplate located thereon and serving as the playing field are then in the raised horizontal playing position. However, when the current is cut off, on expiration of the period of play time set on the timer 33, the electromagnets 20 and 21 are deenergized and release the angle irons 16 and the part of the supporting base frame 7 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, together with the slate bed playing field carried thereby, drops down around pivot 12, its movement decelerated by shock absorbers 34 and 35 connected between frame 3 and 7, until the horizontal webs of the angle irons 16 rest on the bottom wall of the box frame 3 or on a reinforcement provided there.

When the supporting base frame 7 is in this inclined position, the short transverse wall 36 across one front end of the table provided in a depending position on the rail 5 no longer retains the balls on the playing field, and these'run from the now inclined playing field onto an upper return chute 37, or from there onto a lower return chute 38 until they run up against an upwardly projecting blocking lever 39 which is pivotally mounted at 40 on the base of the box frame 3 and which is turned clockwise (FIG. 1) by a pin 41 on the outside of lug 17 of the angle iron 16. In this way, its leftupper end 42 is brought into the intermediate space between the two return chutes 37 and 38 and the balls are prevented from moving further. Thus the balls are unable to roll onto the removal board 44 which is protected by a retainer rail 43.

However, if the requisite number and type of coins are inserted into the coin checker and operator, including the microswitch 32, the microswitch closes and provides the current which activates the timer 33 and the timer now directs current through the rectifier 31'and this sends current to the electromagnets 20 and 21. As long as the playing field or the supporting base frame 7 is in the inclined position, there is no further action as the electromagnets are in the raised position represented and the angle irons 16 are disposed in spacedapart relation therefrom on the bottom of the wooden box frame 3. However, when the pairs of yoke supporting arms 22 are pivoted by means of the lever 30 until they abut against the stop 45, the U-shaped yoke 18 also pivots downwards about axis 12 and the electromagnets 20 and 21 carried thereby come into Contact with and magnetically grip the horizontal webs of the angle irons 16. When the lever 30 is now moved back into the position indicated, the rollers 23 on the pairs of yoke supporting arms 22 roll along the bottom of the yoke and move both the yoke 18 and the supporting base frame 7, together with the playing field, into the position shown, in the drawings. The playing surface is thus moved into the horizontal position needed for the game to take place.

As the base frame 7 is raised to the horizontal position the pin 41 on angle iron 16 rotates blocking lever 39 counterclockwise to the position shown in FIG. 1, rotating the end 42 thereof out of its position of blocking the ball return chute 38 and allowing the balls to roll from that chute to the removal board 44 so that they can be placed on the table for play.

If another coin is not inserted in due time before expiration of the predetermined period of time set on the timer, the current supply is interrupted by timer 33 and the electromagnets 20 and 21 release the angle irons 16 so that the supporting base frame 7 and the playing field again pivots down about pivot axis 12 into the lower inclined position, their downward movement decelerated by the shock absorbers 34 and 35.

The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. A billiard table having a main support frame and a playing surface, comprising a separate support frame having the playing surface connected thereto, pivot means connecting one end of said separate support frame to said main support frame, means connected to the opposite end of said separate support frame for pivotally moving it and said playing surface about pivot means between a lowered inclined non-use position and a raised horizontal use position, said means connected to the opposite end of the support frame includes ferromagnetic plates connected to the opposite end of said separate support frame, a yoke pivotally connected at one end to said pivot means, electromagnet means connected to the opposite end of said yoke and positioned above said ferromagnetic plates, lever means operatively connected between said main support and said yoke to move said yoke about said pivot means from a raised position to a lowered position to move said electromagnet means into contact with said ferromagnetic plates when said separate support frame and said playing surface are in said lowered non-use position thereof, control means connected to said electromagnet means to energize said electromagnet means such that said ferromagnetic plates are magnetically coupled thereto when said plates and said electromagnet means are in contact with one another, and said lever means operative to move said yoke about said pivot means and simultaneously said separate support frame and playing surface when coupled to said yoke through said energized electromagnet means and ferromagnetic plates, about said pivot means from the lowered position to the raised position of each of the yoke, separate support frame, and playing surface.

2. A billiard table as set forth in claim 1 including a coin operator having preset timer means operated by insertion of coins, said timer means connected to operate said means connected to the opposite end of the support frame on the expiration of a preset timer period to pivotally move said separate support frame and playing surface about said pivot means from the raised horizontal use position to the lowered inclined non-use position.

3. A billiard table as set forth in claim 2 in which said coin operator includes a switch connected to be operated thereby when a coin is inserted therein, said switch when operated connected to energize said timer means to energize said electromagnet means for a preset period of use.

4. A billiard table as set forth in claim 1 including shock absorber means connected between said separate support frame and said main support frame operative to gradually lower said separate support frame and playing surface into the lowered inclined nonuse position when said electromagnet means is deenergized.

5. A billiard table as set forth in claim 1 including a ball return chute within said table, and a blocking lever connected adjacent said return chute to be pivoted by said separate support frame, as it moves from the raised position to the inclined position, to a position blocking said chute to retain the balls within said table when the playing field is in the inclined position.

6. A billiard table having a main support frame and a playing surface, comprising a separate support frame having the playing surface connected thereto, pivot means connecting one end of said separate support frame to said main support frame, a second support frame, second pivot means connecting the end of said second support frame, corresponding to the pivotally connected end of said separate support frame, to said main support frame, said second support frame and said separate support frame being pivotally movable relative to each other and relative to said main support frame, a lever mechanism connected between said main support frame and said second support frame for raising and lowering the latter, and releasable magnetic coupling means connected between the end of said separate support frame opposite from said one end thereof and the end of said second support frame opposite from said corresponding end thereof, said releasable magnetic coupling means being so connected between the Support frames such that lowering said second support frame with said lever mechanism completes the magnetic coupling means between said separate support frame and said second support frame and raising the latter with said lever mechanism pivotally moves said separate support frame and said playing surface through said releasable magnetic coupling means about said pivot means between a lowered inclined non-use position and a raised horizontal use position. 

1. A billiard table having a main support frame and a playing surface, comprising a separate support frame having the playing surface connected thereto, pivot means connecting one end of said separate support frame to said main support frame, means connected to the opposite end of said separate support frame for pivotally moving it and said playing surface about pivot means between a lowered inclined non-use position and a raised horizontal use position, said means connected to the opposite end of the support frame includes ferromagnetic plates connected to the opposite end of said separate support frame, a yoke pivotally connected at one end to said pivot means, electromagnet means connected to the opposite end of said yoke and positioned above said ferromagnetic plates, lever means operatively connected between said main support and said yoke to move said yoke about said pivot means from a raised position to a lowered position to move said electromagnet means into contact with said ferromagnetic plates when said separate support frame and said playing surface are in said lowered non-use position thereof, control means connected to said electromagnet means to energize said electromagnet means such that said ferromagnetic plates are magnetically coupled thereto when said plates and said electromagnet means are in contact with one another, and said lever means operative to move said yoke about said pivot means and simultaneously said separate support frame and playing surface when coupled to said yoke through said energized electromagnet means and ferromagnetic plates, about said pivot means from the lowered position to the raised position of each of the yoke, separate support frame, and playing surface.
 2. A billiard table as set forth in claim 1 including a coin operator having preset timer means operated by insertion of coins, said timer means connected to operate said means connected to the opposite end of the support frame on the expiration of a preset timer period to pivotally move said separate support frame anD playing surface about said pivot means from the raised horizontal use position to the lowered inclined non-use position.
 3. A billiard table as set forth in claim 2 in which said coin operator includes a switch connected to be operated thereby when a coin is inserted therein, said switch when operated connected to energize said timer means to energize said electromagnet means for a preset period of use.
 4. A billiard table as set forth in claim 1 including shock absorber means connected between said separate support frame and said main support frame operative to gradually lower said separate support frame and playing surface into the lowered inclined nonuse position when said electromagnet means is deenergized.
 5. A billiard table as set forth in claim 1 including a ball return chute within said table, and a blocking lever connected adjacent said return chute to be pivoted by said separate support frame, as it moves from the raised position to the inclined position, to a position blocking said chute to retain the balls within said table when the playing field is in the inclined position.
 6. A billiard table having a main support frame and a playing surface, comprising a separate support frame having the playing surface connected thereto, pivot means connecting one end of said separate support frame to said main support frame, a second support frame, second pivot means connecting the end of said second support frame, corresponding to the pivotally connected end of said separate support frame, to said main support frame, said second support frame and said separate support frame being pivotally movable relative to each other and relative to said main support frame, a lever mechanism connected between said main support frame and said second support frame for raising and lowering the latter, and releasable magnetic coupling means connected between the end of said separate support frame opposite from said one end thereof and the end of said second support frame opposite from said corresponding end thereof, said releasable magnetic coupling means being so connected between the support frames such that lowering said second support frame with said lever mechanism completes the magnetic coupling means between said separate support frame and said second support frame and raising the latter with said lever mechanism pivotally moves said separate support frame and said playing surface through said releasable magnetic coupling means about said pivot means between a lowered inclined non-use position and a raised horizontal use position. 